Dark Secrets
Chapter 4
Disclaimer: Big shocker: I still don't own Harry Potter or any of it's characters...
And as always thank you for the reviews, followers and favorites, I greatly appreciate it =)
P.S.: Sorry for the delay, in fact, I had everything written except the actual dinner conversation and just didn't really know where I was going with it...
Katie had a hard time trying to work. She'd been erratic since Marcus announced they were to have dinner with their parents. Not quite sure how she had managed to get through the day without harming on of the patients, she was relieved when her shift was over. Quickly changing she bolted out of the hospital, almost running her friend over in the process. "Hey now! Careful Katie." Alicia laughed, holding her friend by the shoulders. "If my husband has the right of it, it's not ladylike to run over people." Both girls giggled, starting to stroll towards the Apparation point.
"So, when did my fiance and you start to plot against me?" Katie playfully nudged the older girl with her shoulder.
"I didn't do anything." Alicia grinned brightly. "And since when are you calling Flint your fiance?"
"Since he put an engagement ring on my finger." she replied somberly.
The brunet skipped to a halt, grabbing Katies hand. "Oh my... Katie! How could you let him do this if its supposed to be an act? Is this about your silly crush on him back in school? Be rational!" she whispered appalled, pulling her in a corner and laying a silencing charm over them. The younger witch was taken aback by her friends outburst. "He is keeping me alive. We are engaged, so I needed an engagement ring. What's the matter with you? I'm safe with Marcus." "But that isn't a normal engagement ring. Didn't he tell you? It's old magic, it's binding you to him. Most great wizarding houses had these made centuries ago. You... Katie you can't take it of till there's his wedding band on your finger and his son in your womb." Alicias face was contorted in worry.
Katie tried to keep her face blank. How could he not tell her this? You can't tell anyone the thruth she remembered Marcus words. Her mind was reeling. She had to lie to her friend. It was the only way. Might as well go for it she thought.
"I love him."
After a surprised gasp Alicia continually opened and closed her mouth, gaping at her friend.
"You do? Then why did you tell me it's an act? What are you playing at Katie?" Alicia sounded genuinely upset now. "Because it was supposed to be an act. But I'm afraid on my side it isn't. I know this is no fairy tale, but don't expect me to be upset about the ring when it's granting me things I want." Oh Merlin Katie, that was a bit too much, she'll never buy it...Katie thought panicked while waiting for Alicias reaction.
But to her surprise her friend had tears in her eyes. "Oh Kates! I'm sorry." she hugged the younger one impulsively. "You deserve to be happy. I just thought..." Katie hushed her. "I know you ment well. But you don't need to worry about me. I'm right were I want to be." She should have become an actress rather than a healer...
They made their way to Diagon Alley, where Alicia ushered Katie into Madame Malkins to find her a few dresses.
"No chance in hell am I going to wear a green dress!" Katie screeched, pushing the offending piece of fabric back to her friend. Alicia couldn't hold her laughter back.
"Why not? You look really good in green, plus Flints face will be worth it." They bickered back and forth until Madame Malkins herself convinced Katie to at least try it on.
Alicia gasped when the blonde exited the changing room. "I suppose it's not so bad." she grudgingly accepted. Alicia was about to retort when Katie hold her hand up in surrender. "Ok, ok. It's great, I'll take it." She decided on a few other dresses, even a silver one among them, but made sure to get a red one as well. She had a weird feeling when she took the money Marcus gave her out of her purse to pay. "I feel awful spending so much of his money on dresses." she whispered to Alica. The other one just rolled her eyes. "Oh please, this is probably pocket change to him. He expects you to spend it on dresses. Don't feel bad for it."
It was already late so the two friends bid each other goodbye and apparated home.
Katie put the dresses away carefully, laying the shorter blue one that she was going to wear tonight out on her bed. It was a neckholder dress, ending just over her knees. She decided to take a quick shower and didn't bother locking the door.
Marcus arrived at home a little after 6pm. "Welcome home Master. The mistress is upstairs master." The house elf squeaked. "Thank you Effie." Marcus nodded, thinking about having to talk to Katie about the way Effie was adressing her. He trudged down the hall and up the stairs. "Katie?" he knocked on her door. When she didn't answer he simply opened it and walked in. Just at the same time Katie emerged the bathroom, completely naked.
Marcus could only stare at her open mouthed, Katie herself looked like a deer cought in the headlights. "Hi." Marcus dumbly said, trying to pry his eyes off of her body. "Hi"she answered, blushing fiercely and moving to cover up.
"I'm sorry. I just wanted to ask if you're ready. I see you need a minute, I'll wait downstairs." and with that he turned and closed the door behind him. Merlin how was he to keep his hands off her now? It had been bad before, but now that he'd actually seen what he had fantasized about for months...
Marcus walked downstairs wishing he had time for a cold shower.
He waited impatiantly, still trying to get the thoughts of Katies nacked body out of his head. He didn't even notice the object of his longing, until she stood in front of the stairs. Looking mesmerizing in a blue dress and black heels. Her hair was curled, so it fell in soft waves down her shoulders.
After composing himself as much as possible he coughed "You look beautiful Katie."
Katie blushed slightly. "Thank you." "I already got your coat." Marcus announced, handing it to her. Katie smiled at him and put it on. Holding onto his muscled arm, she nodded and Marcus apparated them to his parents Manor.
They arrived on the porch and Marcus tried hard to ignore how her hands tightened around his arm.
"You ready?" he asked, bending down to her. To his surprise Katie smiled.
"As ready as I'll be. Why? You afraid?" "Of course not. Was just worried you'd do something gryffindory..." he muttered. Knocking on the front door. Katie tried her best to stifle her laugh.
The Houself opened the door and led them into the dinning room, where Marcus parents along with Mr. and Mrs. Bell were already standing together doing smalltalk.
Marcus mother noticed them first. "Marcus!" she greeted cheerfully, before hugging her son, totally against everything that was tought in eticette lessons, what turned Katies formerly forced smile into an honest one. Marcus mother in the meantime turned from her son to his fiance. "And you must be Katherine! My, what a beauty! I'm so happy to finally meet you." Mrs. Flint chattered and, to Katies surprise, hugged her as well. "Good evening Mrs. Flint. It's nice to meet you" Katie replied politely. "Oh my dear! We are family now! Call me Monica." Mrs. Flint gushed. Clearly smitten with her daughter in law. "Now love, stop hogging the guests." her husband chided, patting his son on the back. " A pleasure to meet you." he greeted Katie, pressing a kiss to her hand. After Katies parents greeted them the group made their way to the dinning table.
The houseelf served dinner after the Flints and Bells had all sat down, Marcus scooting Katies chair for her like a gentleman. After a little smalltalk about everyones work (Katie noticed that indeed Marcus hadn't exaberated about Monicas tight Charity schedule), their mothers allied to ask how exactly they had met again after Hogwarts,wanting every detail. Katie shot Marcus a dazzling smile, reassuring him she had everything under control. "Well, it was at a Falcons Game last spring. I got the cards as a birthday present. I've always enjoyed watching Marcus play, well...if he wasn't trying to kick me off my broom. I was kinda surprised myself that he even noticed me, but he did wink at me. Making my friends go berserk." Katie stopped, giving Marcus a pointed look. He just held his hands up in mock surrender and laughed. "Had to get your attention somehow, I'm not sorry I did it." Katie laughed along with him. Squeezing his hand lovingly. "You already had my attention and I'm pretty sure you knew that." she pointed out. Marcus raised an eyebrow questioningly. When Katie made no move to continue, he decided it was best if he told the rest of their fake story. "So after the game I didn't head to the showers but to the apparation point and waited for Katie. I asked her if she was free in the evening and invited her to dinner. Against all reasoning she said yes. I made quite the effort to convince her I'm not the boy anymore that harased
her on the Quidditch pitch." "And you succeeded. Although it did help that I had a huge crush on you despite your continued efforts to throw me of my broom." Katie threw in, blushing slightly.
"You did?" Marcus asked bewildered. Their parents laughed. "Oh my! Isn't that romantic!" Marcus mother cried out. "A shame you are three years apart, otherwise we would have had this dinner already." Katies mother contemplated. "Oh hush, love. Lets rather celebrate that they've found each other despite the differences." Katies dad smiled at his daughter. Katie looked at the older ones astonished. "You all know, don't you? Marcus! You couldn't wait?" she turned to him outraged. Marcus just opened his mouth totally taken aback. "I'm sorry?"
"Oh Katie darling, don't be cross with him. We know because he asked your father for your hand." her mother tried to rescue Marcus from Katies wrath. "And we know, because he asked me for the engagement ring. There are no surprises when holding the traditions." Marcus mother continued.
Marcus coughed awkwardly and stood up, holding onto Katies hand, so tugging her up with him.
"I have an announcement to make. Katie and I are engaged. There will be an announcement in the Daily prophet tomorrow." Katie looked up to him in surprise. Their parents all congratulated them and ushered them into the sitting room. "Happy now?" Marcus asked Katie in a mock whisper, slightly leaning down to her. She turned to him with another one of her dazzling smiles. "Yes, thank you." To Marcus surprise she kissed him full on the mouth.
The rest of the evening went by in a rush of pleasant conversation. Katies parents decided it was time to leave and bid everyone goodbye, Marcus took Katie home soon after.
Marcus apparated them home. After handing their coats to Effie and biding the elf a good night, they went upstairs silently.
Standing in the hall between their rooms, Katie found her voice back. "That went over really well. It was a nice evening." "Yeah. You did good. My mum loves you. You do know that she'll bother you with charity and other society things now?" Marcus smiled down at her.
"Your mum is a very nice person. I've absolutely no problem with that." Katie smiled back honestly.
Marcus tucked a strand of her hair back behind her ear and leaned down to kiss her chastely.
"Good night, Katie." "Good night"she wished him in return, before they both made their way to the respective bedrooms.
